Nervy performance from Hull

Every team in the history of the Football League play-offs who had gone into the second leg of a semi-final tie with a three-goal lead had gone on to reach the final.

But Hull looked nervous from the kick-off in front of a sell-out home crowd, and the tension only increased when Scotland striker Russell was given too much room in the box to stab home from three yards.

The visitors piled on the pressure as Russell’s free-kick flew just wide and Craig Bryson fizzed a long-range effort inches past the post.

The Rams went 2-0 up deservedly when left-back Robertson sliced the ball into his own net under pressure from Martin to leave the home supporters stunned.

Hull, who struggled to create anything clear cut throughout the match, looked more solid in the second half.

However, Derby midfielder Bryson should have done better when he failed to connect properly from a few yards out, before Martin’s bending strike from the edge of the box produced a fine save from Jakupovic.

What next for Derby?

For the Rams, it is a third season in a row in which they have failed to reach the top flight from a promising position.

Under Steve McClaren’s management, they suffered a last-minute defeat against 10-man Queens Park Rangers in the 2013-14 Championship play-off final, then slid from first to eighth in the final two-and-a-half months of last season.

Paul Clement strengthened the squad significantly before this campaign, bringing in former England players Scott Carson and Darren Bent on free transfers and making several multi-million pound signings – including Tom Ince, Bradley Johnson and Andreas Weimann.

Clement’s sacking in February, with the club just five points off top spot in the Championship, ultimately did not affect their league form with the Rams remaining fifth for all-but two weeks under Darren Wassall.

But with Wassall’s future uncertain and the wait for their first Premier League campaign since 2007-08 continuing, another summer of change both on and off the field at Derby could be on the cards.

Reaction – ‘We just shaded them’

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Hull City boss Steve Bruce:

“We never do things easy but we have to give credit to Derby who on the night put up a hell of a show.

“We had to show resilience which saw us through in the end. Over the two legs we have just shaded them.

“Talk about two extremes. It was a nervous, edgy night. We had to defend for an hour and we have done that to go through.”

Analysis

Steve Harper, former Hull goalkeeper, on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

“Derby came here and gave it a real go. We thought Andrew Robertson’s injury-time goal on Saturday would be the tipping point and it’s proved to be just that.

“Hull City were a little bit lucky tonight because they were poor. They were flat. Derby were excellent. They played at a high tempo, but ultimately ran out of steam late on.

“Hull’s performance on Saturday got them through. For Derby, it was too little, too late.”